A sleeper hit when released in 1986, Stand by Me
is based on Stephen King's novella "The Body"
(from the book Different Seasons); but it's more
about the joys and pains of boyhood friendship
than a morbid fascination with corpses. It's
about four boys ages 12 and 13 (Wil Wheaton,
River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell)
who take an overnight hike through the woods
near their Oregon town to find the body of a boy
who's been missing for days. Their journey
includes a variety of scary adventures
(including a ferocious junkyard dog, a swamp
full of leeches, and a treacherous leap from a
train trestle), but it's also a time for
personal revelations, quiet interludes, and the
raucous comradeship of best friends.
Set in the 1950s, the movie indulges an
overabundance of anachronistic profanity and a
kind of idealistic, golden-toned nostalgia (it's
told in flashback as a story written by
Wheaton's character as an adult, played by
Richard Dreyfuss). But it's delightfully
entertaining from start to finish, thanks to the
rapport among its young cast members and the
timeless, universal themes of friendship,
family, and the building of character and
self-esteem. Kiefer Sutherland makes a memorable
teenage villain, and look closely for John
Cusack in a flashback scene as Wheaton's
now-deceased and dearly missed brother. A
genuine crowd-pleaser, this heartfelt movie led
director Rob Reiner to even greater success with
his next film, The Princess Bride.
Directed by: Rob
Reiner
Written by: Raynold
Gideon & Bruce A. Evans
Produced by: Bruce
A. Evans, Raynold Gideon, Andrew Scheinman
Original music by:
Jack Nitzsche
Cast:
Wil Wheaton .... Gordie
Lachance
River Phoenix .... Chris Chambers
Corey Feldman .... Teddy Duchamp
Jerry O'Connell .... Vern Tessio
Kiefer Sutherland .... Ace Merrill
Casey Siemaszko .... Billy Tessio
Gary Riley .... Charlie Hogan
Bradley Gregg .... Eyeball Chambers
Jason Oliver .... Vince Desjardins
Marshall Bell .... Mr. Lachance
Lee McCain .... Mrs. Lachance
Bruce Kirby .... Mr. Quidacioluo
William Bronder .... Milo Pressman
Scott Beach .... Mayor Grundy
Richard Dreyfuss .... Gordon Lachance
John Cusack .... Denny Lachance
Madeleine Swift .... Waitress
Geanette Bobst .... Mrs. Grundy
Art Burke .... Principal Wiggins
Matt Williams .... Bob Cormier
Andy Lindberg .... Dave "Lardass" Hogan
Dick Durock .... Bill Travis
O.B. Babbs .... Lardass Heckler #1
Charlie Owens .... Lardass Heckler #2
Kenneth Hodges .... Donelley Twin
John Hodges .... Donelley Twin
Susan Thorpe .... Fat Lady
Korey Scott Pollard .... Moke
Rick Elliott .... Jack Mudgett
Kent Lutrell .... Ray Brower
Chance Quinn .... Gordon's Son
Jason Naylor .... His Friend
